North Carolina finally made an appearance on “Sleepy Hollow” this week. Only it wasn’t in this century, or in the past few. No, instead, we were treated to North Carolina circa 1587, on Roanoke Island to be exact, where the Lost Colony famously vanished. It’s a legend that continues to baffle American history experts and, yet, that didn’t stop “Sleepy Hollow” from writing its own version of the events. Oh, and Ichabod (Tom Mison) encounter that pesky little perk of modern day civilization that we call plastic wrapping. Let’s jump into the highlights.

The Lost Boy: After Abbie (Nicole Beharie) moves Ichabod into Sheriff Corbin’s cabin (It’s rustic appeal is more his speed, she says), the two are notified of a boy who wandered into town and passed out in the middle of the street. On the scene, which in reality is the Kenan Memorial Fountain in downtown Wilmington, Ichabod and Abbie approach the boy named Thomas who says something in Middle English, which Ichabod knows is a language that has long been dead. The boy is infected with a virus that manifests as black veins, and it’s spreading. While interviewing the boy via webcam, he reveals he’s from Roanoke, which Ichabod deduces is not the modern town in Virginia but the Lost Colony from North Carolina. Oh, and that colony is not modern.

Lost (Colony) No More: In search of where the boy came from, Ichabod and Abbie find a path in the woods that leads to a small island in the swamp (aka Greenfield Lake). Soon, Ichabod finds a walkway over the water to the island and, yes, they do walk on water. (Side note: Because we are at a point in this show where anything is possible, just go with what happens next.) On the island, the pair realize they are in the midst of the real Lost Colony settlers, hidden by magic on the island. Still with me? Ok, good. As told by an elder, the colony, upon arrival on Roanoke, was met with a plague that was released by the Horseman of Pestilence. Baby Virginia Dare was the first causality, but (because the dead are all too helpful on this show) her spirit led her people to safety in this mystic land where the Horseman can’t hurt them and the virus won’t kill them. As for Thomas, he was lured into the modern world to spread the disease further. If the virus kills Thomas, who is Sleepy Hollow’s only hope, it will allow the Horseman of Pestilence to cross over to the modern world and join forces with the Horseman of Death, aka Ol’ Headless. Basically, Thomas must be returned to the colony or we are doomed.

Back to the Future: Crossing back over into our time, Ichabod and Abbie arrive at the CDC quarantine just in time for Ichabod to realize he is infected. Abbie puts up a fight against his detainment (they really are partners!), but it is no use. Soon, he is sedated and unconscious, while Abbie is left to pray in the hospital chapel for an answer to the crisis. Courtesy of some well-placed Holy Water, she realizes that a bath in the watering well from the colony will cure Thomas and Ichabod.

Vacation to Puragtory: Thanks to Ichabod’s tangle with viral infection, we were finally treated to a peek at the world between worlds where Katrina (Katia Winter) has been imprisoned by Molock. It is a fog-filled, darkly lit forest where other shadowy figures wander aimlessly in the background. This is purgatory, which is where you don’t want to be. As Ichabod joyfully reunites with his wife (sharing an long-overdue kiss, finally), she reveals that he close to death and needs to fight. She is also about to reveal just why she has been trapped in purgatory when he is pulled back to the land of the living. Again? Really? Why is every scene with her such a tease?!

Quarantine Break: With the help of Captain Irving (Orlando Jones), who apparently will agree to anything if it’s planned in a hush voice, Abbie breaks Ichabod and Thomas out of the quarantine and heads back to the mysterious island of time travel. After a good adrenaline shot to the leg and a pep talk, they make it there just as the Horse of Pestilence is galloping in to collect his kill. After dunking himself and Thomas in the well, Ichabod comes up for air just as the Horseman bursts into dust. Abbie has saved the day by “having a little faith,” as Ichabod put it.

The Horseman Returned: After weeks of being a no-show, Ol’ Headless returned at the end of the episode like a bat out of hell. He has been hanging out at the bottom of the lake apparently and upon his gallant return, he has sets every inch of the forest behind him on fire as he rides once more. No very eco-friendly, but I guess a Horseman of the Apocalypse wouldn’t care.

Ichabod and the Modern World: This week, our Revolutionary War soldier had a few more modern-day encounters, including ones with a loofah, scotch tape and a webcam (which he talked into like a grandparent being introduced to the internet). He also had a recurring encounter with plastic wrapping, first on his brand spankin’ new razor and then on the quarantine walls. He wasn’t pleased.

Remember, due to baseball preemptions, “Sleepy Hollow” will take a three-week hiatus and return on Nov. 4 with what appears to be a heart-wrenching episode. See you then, Sleepyheads!

I would like to know why the Islamic symbol was put in a prominent, central place at the front of the chapel with the cross at the top darkened and the strange one at the bottom crooked. This is a an “American” story. Why a Muslim crescent and star? What’s that about?

About This Blog

Hi! My name is Hunter Ingram and I’m the film/TV reporter for StarNews Media. I will be the primary blogger for WilmonFilm, but other staffers, including Community Engagement Editor Jeff Hidek and freelance reporter Brian Tucker, are likely to contribute from time to time.

With this blog, I aim to be Southeastern North Carolina’s go-to source for all things film and TV. Wilmington and its surrounding areas are rich with intriguing projects, from the big-budget blockbusters to the small-scale, high-impact independent films. I will post everything from breaking news to offbeat features that will cover every facet of the entertainment news emerging from the area. So bookmark this page and be on the lookout every day for new posts!

While we may be hard at work reporting on the stories we get, we also want your tips, reactions and ideas. Got a story idea that is itching to be heard? E-mail or call me! Want to say something about a post? Leave a comment.